Zan Min Maung- Restoring stability and hope

Zan Min Maung and his family live in Hlaing Thar Yar Township, one of the largest slum areas in Yangon, Myanmar. The household includes both parents, two half-brothers from the mother’s first marriage, Zan Min Maung, and his younger brother. Both parents are living with HIV, and among all the children, only Zan Min Maung is HIV positive. The father has long struggled with alcohol use and has never had stable work or income, leaving the mother as the family’s primary provider.

Zan Min Maung became a sponsored child in 2022, when he was just four years old. At that time, he did not have a birth certificate—an essential document for school enrollment. With the support of our team, this critical document was secured, opening the door to his education. His two half-brothers, now 19 and 16, had already dropped out of school. In 2024, Zan Min Maung himself attended kindergarten, while his younger brother was still too young for school.

The family lived on a small plot of land granted as compensation by ward authorities after Zan Min Maung’s uncle was recruited into the military. This uncle had been a key provider, but after he was gone, the burden fell entirely on the mother. By 2025, the father’s alcohol problems worsened, creating instability in the home despite ongoing support from the sponsorship.

As financial stress mounted, the family fell into debt. Their fragile shelter collapsed due to harsh weather, forcing them to flee and live temporarily under a bridge. During this period, Zan Min Maung’s medication adherence failed, and he had to drop out of school. Our team immediately coordinated with the clinic to restore his treatment routine and worked closely with the family to address the crisis.

Recognizing the urgent need for safety, our team provided a new shelter, constructed on the same plot of land originally granted by the ward authorities, allowing the family to return home. At the same time, counseling was shared with the father regarding his alcohol use. Today, both parents are working, addressing their debts, and rebuilding their lives. Stability has returned.

With this renewed foundation, Zan Min Maung, now 7 years old, is preparing to return to school in the 2026 academic year, and plans are underway to enroll his younger brother when he reaches school age. This remarkable turnaround is made possible by the tireless efforts of our social workers and the generous support of the SANNI Foundation, which have restored shelter, stability, and hope for Zan Min Maung and his family.